Influence of strategies and heuristics on farmers' response to change under uncertainty

Hierarchical Decision Models of woolproducers' decisions provide unique insights into the impact of major price changes. Producers' lagged response in some contexts appear to be due to the ambiguous decision environment they face, their strategic goals and responses to that environment apart from lags caused by factors such as attitude to risk, expectations adjustment, adjustment costs and learning costs. Much of the response to major price changes comes from strategic decisions to change enterprises rather than marginal changes to existing enterprises. In ambiguous environments, methods may need to be found that incorporate simplifying behavioural rules and strategies.     

Discussion of ‘Strange bedfellows? Voluntary CSR disclosure and politics’

This article discusses the paper by Griffin and Sun (2013). Griffin and Sun (2013) investigate (i) the association between the company individuals and stakeholders political interests and the intensity of voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures, and (ii) investors response to these CSR disclosures. This discussion focuses on issues relating to five key areas of Griffin and Sun (2013), namely, the relationship between political interests and CSR disclosure intensity, the relationship between political interests and investors reactions to CSR disclosure, the political interest proxies employed, sample selection and the empirical analyses.     

One little Lebanese cucumber is not going to break the bank: Price in the choice of fresh fruits and vegetables

This paper reports on empirical research into individual consumer behaviour in the context of fresh fruit and vegetable purchases. The discussion draws on research results from two studies conducted around the actual shopping process. The findings suggest that consumers' price response behaviour may not be consistent with that predicted by economic theory and that this could be significant at the aggregate level. The existence of 'acceptable price ranges' points to the presence of price thresholds within which consumers are relatively insensitive to price movements. Also of relevance is that the primary influence of the budget constraint may be at a broader level rather than at the level of choosing particular products.     

Performance Evaluation of Audit Assistants in Chartered Accounting Firms

The development of efficient and competent staff in accounting firms is enhanced by the use of formal performance evaluation systems. This paper reports on a study which examined the objectives and uses of performance evaluation, the methods used, the dimensions evaluated, the development of overall assessments, the provision of feedback and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the systems in use. In general, the performance evaluation process in these firms is effective, but there is scope for improvement in a number of areas.